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(No Model.)

D. A. GRANT.

. GAR COUPLING. N0. 257,317. Patented May 2,1882.

Fig.1,

I A J WITNESSES: INVENTOlR flaw, Duccme .Ri. Qfomh,

BY flaw/(4 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUANE A. GRANT, OF NYAOK, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,317, dated May 2,1882.

Application filed February 21, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUANE A. GRANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nyack, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in (Jar-Couplings, of which thefollowin g is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplings comprising a pinfor engagement with a link 5' and it consists in the means, hereinafterdescribed, whereby the pin is held in an upper position for the entranceor withdrawal of the link.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in whichFigure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section on the line to w,Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the "line a: m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a similar section on the line 3 y, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical crosssection on the line 2 2, Fig.1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates a draw-head adapted to be secured to a car atthe required place, and B indicates the coupling-pin, which passesvertically through such head, for its engagement with the link 0, thepin having a spur, a, which prevents its withdrawal. I construct thedraw-head A by preference with a double mouth, forming twolink-entrances, A A

To the shank of the head A is secured one end of a spring, D, the otheror free end of which projects into the head proper, where it carries anoffset, t, the spring being composed of a strip of sheet metal and theoffset being integral therewith. The location of the spring D is nearone side of the head A, and the direction of its offset t is inwardtoward the middle of the head, at which point is situated thecouplingpin B. Thetendency of the springD is to move in the direction ofits offset, and theinner or normal position thereof is determined by astop, 8, formed in this example by one edge of the partition between thedouble mouth of the draw-head A, while the offset t is made of suchlength that when the spring is in the position named said offset isbrought into the plane of movementofthe'coupling-pin. Hence, when thispin is raised and the spring is allowed to follow its bent or impulse,the ofl'set t is brought under the pin, as shown in Fig. 2, thuseffectually holding it in an upper position.

In order to keep the lower end of the coupling-pin above the mouth ofthe draw-head the offset t is arranged at that place.

The free end or edge of the spring I) is vertical and of sufficientlength to extend the en tire height of the mouth of the draw-head A, asshown, and the width of this mouth being approximately similar to thatof the couplinglink 0, it follows that when the link is thrust into thehead it retracts or displaces the spring, forcing it outward, wherebythe coupling-pin is released and allowed to drop into its place in thelink. V

lt will be noticed that the spring D is allowed to take an inner oractive position only when the link 0 is withdrawn, and in order toprovide for holding up the coupling-pin while the link is in thehead-as, for example, when two cars have been uncoupled, but leftstanding-I make use of a latch, E, which. is located above the springand is pivoted, as at r, to move in a horizontal plane, the same beingcapable of adjustment under the lower end of the pin B, as shown in Fig.3, or out of the path of the pin, as indicated by dotted lines in saidfigure. This latch E is arranged in a mortise, q, in the draw-head, theedges 0 o of which mortise form stops to determine the positions ofthelatch. The pivot r of the latch extends vertically through the mouthof the draw-head and is flat on its exposed part, the pivot being inthis example made in one piece with the latch of sheet metal. When thelatch E is set to a position for use its said fiat pivot ris diagonalrelatively to the sides ofthe draw head, taking the position indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 2, and if the coupling-link G is now thrust intothe head it strikes one edge of the pivot and reverses the latter,thereby bringing the latch to a rear position and freeing thecoupling-pin.

From the foregoing description it will be 010* served that the couplingobtained by my invention is to the greatest extent automatic in itsoperation, while it is comparatively simple in its construction' 'andnot liable to get out of order.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V 1.The combination, substantially as hereinbei'ore set forth, of the draWhead, the coup pivoted latch on the exterior of the draw-head adapted tobe automatically operated by the entrance of a coupling-link and capableof being operated from the exterior by the brakeman, as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with thedraw-head and the coupling-pin, of the pin-holding latch, having a flatpivot which extends vertically through the mouth of the draw-head andtakes a diagonal position when the latch is in use, for its 1 reversalby the thrust of a coupling-link.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I 5 my hand and seal in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DUANE A. GRANT.

Witnesses CHAS. WAHLERS, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

